Cameron Herold, author of The Second in Command: Unleashing the Power of Your COO
Bill Ringle and Cameron Herold discuss the role of the COO, the importance of matching the stage of the company and the relationship chemistry with the CEO, and when it is time for a COO to move on to another role or company for ambitious small business leaders.
>>> Visit MyQuestforTheBest.com for complete show notes and more expert advice and inspiring stories to propel your small business growth. My Quest for the Best is a top-rated small business podcast with over 300 episodes of thought-provoking and insightful interviews with today’s top thought leaders and business experts. Host Bill Ringle’s mission with this show is to provide the strategies, insights, and resources that will unlock the growth potential of your business through these powerful conversations.
Interview Insights
Top 3 Takeaways from this Interview
Your second in command must be the yin to your yang, complementing your skills, interests, and responsibilities.
A talented CMO could work in almost any company and contribute to its success. A talented COO knows that they would need to find the right combination of company stage, industry, business model, and chemistry with the CEO to make significant contributions.
An effective COO is essential to scaling your business. If strategic growth is stuck, check with your COO for their perspective before reviewing the sales performance metrics.
Read the Show Notes from this Episode
Cameron cites Thomas Edison's observation that "Vision without execution is hallucination."
CASE: The story of how Brian Scudamore, founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK hired Cameron as its first COO, employee 14.
What can someone who reports to the CEO, as a COO, say, do to improve their relationship? Think of it like a good marriage.
CASE: What was the story behind the conflict you resolved at 1-800-JUNK between the head of product and head of IT?
How did you grow the COO Alliance during the pandemic lock down?
How do you use the Kolbe assessment to make your COO Alliance members better leaders?
How did you come to broaden your understanding of the many types of roles that COOs can play? Lessons from Clayton Mask, the founder of Infusionsoft and a Harvard Business Review article.
Where did the double-double rule of thumb come from, where the management team that takes you through a revenue doubling twice probably needs to be updated or replaced?
What's your approach to and experience with using ChatGPT and Open AI in your work?
My Quest for the Best Lightning Round Begins
When do you know it is time to move on as COO? Two parts -- one from the COO perspective and one from the CEO perspective.
Expert Bio
Cameron Herold has built a dynamic consultancy and his current clients include a 'Big 4' wireless carrier and a monarchy. He earned his reputation as the business growth guru by guiding his clients to double their profit and double their revenue in just three years or less.
Cameron was an entrepreneur from day one. At age 21, he had 14 employees. By 35, he'd help build his first TWO $100 MILLION DOLLAR companies. By the age of 42, Cameron engineered 1-800-GOT-JUNK's spectacular growth from $2 Million to $106 Million in revenue and 3100 employees - and he did that in just six years. His companies landed over 5,200 media placements in that same six years, including coverage on Oprah.
Not only does Cameron know how to grow businesses, but his delivery from the stage is second to none. Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes magazine, stated: "Cameron Herold is THE BEST SPEAKER I've ever heard...he hits grand slams".
When Cameron steps off the stage, he doesn't stop teaching. He is the author of the global best-selling business book DOUBLE DOUBLE, which is in its 8th printing and in multiple translations around the world.